1. Sections 2 and 3 Elections and Money
Chapter 7
Sections 2 and 3
Elections and Money

2. Elections
A Democratic Government cannot succeed unless we have free, honest and accurate elections.
What does this mean???
National elections are held:
November of every even # year
The Tuesday-after-the-first-Monday
This insures election day is never on a Sunday or on the first day of the month

3. Absentee voting
Voting by those unable to get to their regular polling places on election day
3 reasons you are allowed to vote absentee
Too ill or disabled
Expect to be away from home for whatever reasons
Military service

4. Precinct Voting District
Smallest geographic units for the conduct of elections
They deal with the polling places where people go to vote
Poll watchers: one from each party is allowed at each polling place
They can challenge anyone they don’t believe is a qualified voter
Monitor the process
Handout sample ballots
Loudoun County

5. Ballot The device by which a voter registers a choice in an election
Today: secret ballot
Used to be public
Office-Group ballot: candidates for an office are grouped together under the title of that office

6. Australian Ballot
Started in Australia and today all states in the US use it
4 features
Printed at public expense
Lists the names of all candidates in an election
Given out only at the polls
One to each qualified voter
Marked in secret

8. Money and elections So much money is spent on elections
Where does that money come from???
2 major forms
Public and Private
Spending in 2012

9. Private Contributions
Give the most money
Small contributors: those that give small amounts
This has been a major development over the years
Wealthy Individuals: Large donations
Candidates: give their own money
Perot the most 65 million
Nonparty Groups: are given donations from their supporters
Political action committees (PAC)
Special interest groups
Temporary organizations:
Groups formed for the campaign
Fund raisers

10. Super PAC These groups do not directly give the candidate money
HOWEVER, they are able to spend unlimited amounts of money to support the candidate in the form of adds, publicans and even movies
Citizen’s United Case
Prior to this ruling there were limits on how much money corporations could give to candidates
Corporate free speech is the same as individual free speech

11. FEC Federal Election Committee
Deals with all federal laws dealing with campaign finance
Laws cover 4 broad areas
Timely disclosure of campaign finance data
Places limits on campaign contributions
Places limits on campaign expenditures
Provides public funding
Have to disclose to keep everyone honest

12. Limits on Contributions
Today no person can give more than 2000 to federal primary election or general election
5000 to PAC
25000 to National Party Committee
Hard money: money raised and spent to elect candidates for Congress and White House
Limited
Soft Money: Money given to party organization for stuff like voter registration
No limits until 2002